Police: Illegal Weapon Recovered Following Dispute Investigation

A Lakewood man faces a felony weapon possession charge after a officer noticed an illegal weapon in his vehicle while tending to an unrelated matter Thursday night.

Johnathan Walker, a 22-year-old from Lakewood, flagged down Ptl. Patrick Cervenak at 11:55 p.m. near the Ridgeway Fire Department on Route 571 to report that he was involved in a dispute at a house party on Spruce Drive, about a half mile away, said Capt. Lisa Parker.

Police said that Walker claimed his driver's side door window had been shattered by "an unknown male" at the party. As Cervenak spoke with Walker, the officer spotted a dagger between the front driver and passenger seats.

"A dagger is a double-bladed knife that is commonly used as a 'fighting knife' designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon," Parker said. "It is a felony in New Jersey to possess a dagger."

Further investigation led Cervenak to find an open alcoholic beverage container in the car, police said. 

Walker was then taken into custody at the scene and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon, police said.

Patrolmen Chris Cerullo and Christian Nazario were tasked to investigate Walker's broken car window and charged Kenneth Jackson, 29, of Manchester, with criminal mischief on Spruce Drive, police said.

Walker and Jackson were released by police with complaint summonses, according to Parker.